Wednesday Considering Sikes Lake Fishing Before Easter Weekend Storms

It was back to Sikes Lake I ventured on this day after the Ides of April, also known as the 16th day and third Wednesday of the fourth month of 2025, for some nature communing under a clear blue sky, with the air heated pleasantly into the 70-degree zone, as measured via the Fahrenheit temperature measuring method.

My nature communing did not include catching fish. The sign you see photo documented, above, showed up a week or two ago, attached to a fence which blocked access to the lake, at that point, making fishing not possible.

The signs informs one of the type fish one may catch in Sikes Lake, and warns that one must be properly licensed to do any angling.

I have seen a few poles hovering over Sikes Lake, over the years. I have never seen anyone catch a fish, of any sort.

I do know that periodically Sikes Lake is stocked with fish. Of which variety I have no clue.

Tomorrow may be the last pleasant day, weather-wise, for a few days.

Currently the Easter weekend weather forecast for my North Texas location is for heavy rain, hail, thunderstorms and tornado conditions, beginning Good Friday, and lasting through Easter Sunday.

These dire weather conditions likely will wreak havoc with any possible plans I might come up with to attend any Easter morning sunrise services....

Back To Sikes Lake Under A Clear Blue Cloud-Free Sky

A cloud-free, clear blue sky has returned to my Wichita Falls location in Texas. After several days in a row, overcast, cold, windy and raining.

As you can see, via today's look at Sikes Lake, the lack of wind rendering waves has turned the lake into a giant mirror.

Methinks today was the most pleasant outdoor day yet this year. Multiple others were enjoying the return of the blue-sky norm.

Last night, as warned, the temperature dipped below freezing, as evidenced by the frost covering roofs for a short while after the sun arrived for its daily heating duty.

There is no apparent damage done by last night's likely extremely short freeze, which was barely below 32 degrees, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

I would think it highly likely that last night marks the last time the outer world freezes at my location, til the exit of Summer's chilly arrival of Fall.

It felt good to be outside endorphin-ing today, after several days of wandering Walmart being my aerobic outlet.

I think I may be addicted to endorphins and suffer withdrawal symptoms when I do not get my adequate daily dose...

Marching Around Sikes Lake On Final Day Of March

On this final day of the third month of 2025, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for a pleasantly temperatured walk around the lake.

Which would make that the Bluish Lagoon of Sikes Lake you see above, looking west from the west end of the lake.

Today the outer world is not scheduled to get too warm, only heating into the low 70s, as measured via the Fahrenheit temperature measuring method. 

A couple days ago the outer world turned HOT enough to cause me to switch my interior space's climate control from HEAT to COOL for the first time this year.

I have the A/C set to COOL to 80 degrees, which feels plenty COOL. The A/C has not turned itself on since that one HOT day, a couple days ago, due to the temporary return of natural air conditioning.

Ironically, well, maybe it is not ironic, more weird than ironic, maybe, but 80 degrees is also the temperature I set the climate control to when I want my interior space warmed up.

It will be a few months in the future, most likely, before I feel the need to warm up my interior space...

Final 2025 March Saturday At Sikes Lake

I have not much been in the mood to commune with nature the past couple days. Mostly due to being distracted by distractions during the time frame I usually do my nature communing.

But, on this final Saturday of the third month of 2025 I made my way to Sikes Lake to join the throngs enjoying the current heat wave, with the temperature today getting into the 90s, as measured by the Fahrenheit method.

After the sun sets today a strong thunderstorm is on the weather menu.

I forgot to make mention of the foliage photo documented today at Sikes Lake. That is a Prickly Pear patch of cactus, getting near to being in bloom mode.

Subject change.

Years ago, on January 21, 2017, I drove to Sikes Lake, which, that day, was the launch location of the biggest protest march I have ever marched in.

I blogged about this in Wichita Falls January 21 Women's March.

Today, on Facebook, I read a post from Robert Reich, the former Secretary of Labor, advising those who want to take action, doing something in protest of the current state of America, to enter "April 5 demonstration near me" into whatever search engine you use.

So, I Googled "April 5 demonstration near me" and did not come up with any info about a demonstration in Wichita Falls, or near Wichita Falls. There were multiple websites about the April 5 demonstration, but nothing telling me where one near me might be.

Well, we have a week til the date of these world-wide demonstrations. I suspect something will come up, locally, before next Saturday...

Sunday Not Swimming In Windy Sikes Lake With Snakes

On this next to last Sunday of the third month of 2025, it was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured, joining the throngs enjoying trying to walk in a strong breeze blowing in from the Northeast.

So far, Sunday's wind does not seem to be generating dust clouds, leaving a mostly blue sky covered only by a little wispy clouding.

I know I have made note of it before, but today I was freshly struck by the seeming absurdity of signage forbidding swimming in Sikes Lake, along with advising that university approval is needed for any Sikes Lake boating, canoeing or kayaking.

I have been walking around Sikes Lake for years now and have never seen anything but birds and litter floating on the lake. Does this mean university approval is never granted, or that no one has any desire to float a boat on Sikes Lake?

I suspect the lack of boating is due to no one thinking it to be something anyone would want to do. What with the lake being shallow, and there being no boat launch locations. That and Lake Wichita is only a couple miles distant and has multiple boat launching locations.

 As for swimming. I can't imagine anyone would think that to be a good idea. Shallow Sikes Lake looks murky on a good day, and downright muddy after rain drains into the lake.

I have not gone swimming in a Texas lake since early this century, when I took a dip in Lake Grapevine, after mountain biking the Horseshoe Trail. That lake dip ended my Texas lake swimming due to an incident with what I thought was a water moccasin. All I saw was the head and that set me swimming fast to shore, where I looked out on the water to see I had been chased by a turtle, not a snake.

At that point in time a couple elderly gents were fishing from the dock I had jumped into the lake from. I told them I thought I was being chased by a snake, not a turtle. One of the elderly gents then told me that earlier that day they saw two water moccasins slither out from under the dock.

And thus, that ended me ever again swimming in a Texas lake...

Sunday Dust-Free Cloud-Free Sikes Lake Walkaround

Yesterday, the day known as Saturday, also known as the Ides of March, also known as the third Saturday of the 2025 version of March, some rain precipitated.

That precipitation seems to have wiped the sky clear of Friday's excessive dust, rendering Sunday's outer world, at my location, once again with a cloud-free blue sky, as you can see via the photo documentation from today's walk around Sikes Lake.

The outer world dropped a lot of degrees during the Dust Storm, with the cool continuing today, with the outer world chilled to barely 50 degrees, as measured via the Fahrenheit method.

Tomorrow, the day known as St. Patrick's Day, heat is scheduled to return, as in a high in the 80s, or higher...

Chilly Sunny Sunday Wichita Falls Walk Around Sikes Lake

The sky has begun to clear over North Texas, as evidenced by the view you see here of the Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake, looking westward.

Yesterday's day long deluge of rain was the first such has happened at my Wichita Falls location for quite some time.

Along with some thunderstorming.

I do not know if last night's predicted snowflakes materialized. There was zero evidence of such when the sun began its daily illumination duty, an hour late, due to that annoying switch to Daylight Savings Time.

Hiking around Sikes Lake was cold, real cold, on this second Sunday of the third month of 2025. This required insulated sweatpants, hooded sweatshirt, and gloves. I thought we were done with this type chill for a few months.

On the plus side of the weather, we are forecast to get into the 80s in a couple days. 

Today I thought the Sikes Lake waterfall would be falling a lot of water due to the copious amount of rain which deluged the last 24 hours.

But, such was not the case.

There was a litle water falling over the dam, making for the only waterfall in Wichita Falls, due to, I learned this morning, the fact that the official Wichita Falls waterfall is currently turned off. 

The official Wichita Falls waterfall is an artificial waterfall which gets its water to fall by sucking it from the Wichita River. A river which currently is running too low to make it easy for the artificial waterfall to suck up enough water to fall. That and the low river level has caused debris to clog up the water intake.

I have opined previously that it might behoove Wichita Falls to send some sort of task force to Chandler, Arizona to make note of that town's multiple artificial waterfall water features, finding out how such was funded, then replicate it by installing multiple artificial waterfalls all around Wichita Falls.

I have no clue how the current one and only Wichita Falls artificial waterfall came to be, only that it happened in the 1980s.

Stormy Windy Rain Result With Wichita Falls Sikes Lake Waterfall

Last night a storm arrived, around 3 in the morning, dropping copious amounts of water, along with some of that water in the frozen form of hail. 

The D/FW Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex zone got hit with hurricane level wind gusts last night, knocking out power to many.

Such was not the case at my location about 130 miles northwest of D/FW.

By morning my abode was almost surrounded by a moat, but I was able to successfully make my way to my motorized means of motion, to drive to Sikes Lake for some nature communing, which is an activity I have not indulged in for a couple days, due to distractions distracting me from such.

The forecast for today forecast winds gusting near 50 mph. As I walked around Sikes Lake the persistent gusting made walking a bit unstable at times. And felt to be in excess of 50 mph.

As you can see, via the photo documentation, the wind was making some whitecapping waves on the lake. 

The overnight rain rendered Sikes Lake a muddy brown, instead of its usual blue hue. The threatening sky may have exacerbated that brown muddy lake color scheme.

It has been a while since I've seen a waterfall falling water in Wichita Falls. A month ago, when I walked to the main manmade Wichita Falls waterfall it was in dry falls mode.

Other than that main manmade Wichita Falls waterfall, the other manmade Wichita Falls waterfall which falls water somewhat regularly, when precipitation is at a normal level, is the waterfall falling over the Sikes Lake dam.

Today, as I got closer, the roar of falling water indicated to me that the Sikes Lake dam's spillway was in waterfall mode, as you can see, but not hear, via the photo documentation.

Due to the wind and low humidity, we are under what is known as a Red Flag warning, indicating wildfire conditions. What with that rain, last night, I don't see how it can be that humidity is low, or that conditions are still dry enough to easily start a fire.

Currently, looking out my computer room window, the outer world looks stormy, gray and menacing, a local visual metaphor for America's current status in the world...

Final February Sunday Sunny Warm Sikes Lake Nature Communing

What you are looking at here is the final Sunday of February, noon view of Sikes Lake.

Sikes Lake was my nature communing location today, along with throngs of other nature communers, enjoying the return of warm air, a blue sky, and no wind, rendering Sikes Lake into mirror-like calm.

35 degrees above freezing, as measured by the Fahrenheit method. 

35 degrees above freezing is 67 degrees, which felt relatively balmy after shivering near zero and below only a couple days ago.

Shorts and a short-sleeved t-shirt were all the outwear needed today. 

Looking at the long-range weather forecast, well into March, again showing no more days where the temperature dips below freezing.

But, we have been lulled into relief previously by the long-range forecast, as recently as a couple weeks ago, showing no more freezing days.

And then that un-predicted Polar Vortex descended from the far north, chilling most of continental America.

So, I won't be too shocked if such happens again, before we get to the point where this year's revolve around the Sun gets to its reliably heating location.

I read this morning my old home zone of Western Washington is getting drenched with an Atmospheric River, the first major drenching of the year.

When I lived in Washington, what is now called an Atmospheric River, was known as a Pineapple Express.

I like the Pineapple Express name better than Atmospheric River...

Sikes Lake Windy Nature Communing Way Colder Than Predicted

Above you are looking at the Brownish-Blue lagoon of Sikes Lake.

With the temperature predicted to be 71 degrees, with zero wind making those 71 degrees feel warmer, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured on this second Saturday of the second month of 2025, hoping for some pleasant nature communing.

Instead.

Upon arrival at Sikes Lake, an hour before noon, the temperature was 56 degrees, via the way Fahrenheit measures the temperature. And that zero wind was gusting at speeds around 36 mph, according to the updated weather info provided by my phone.

I do not remember when I last felt so totally chilled as I did today. That and feeling the need to hold onto my hat lest it get blown away.

One gust, which had to be well over 36 mph, almost knocked me over, causing me to stumble, almost losing my balance.

I knew a cold front was scheduled to arrive.

Tomorrow.

Not today.

Today's big chill, with super gusting winds, was totally unexpected, due to being unpredicted.

I think I shall forego going for an outer world nature commune tomorrow, with Sunday predicted to get to only 46 degrees, for the high, again via that Fahrenheit measuring method. I suspect, what with today being way colder than expected, the same will happen tomorrow.

I just hope we are not heading to an unpredicted sub-zero deep freeze, such as what happened in Texas a couple Februarys ago...

Balmy First February Texas Day Walking Around Sikes Lake

On this first day of the second month of 2025, it was back to Sikes Lake I ventured on this balmy Saturday, with the outer world heated to degrees pleasant enough to make it comfortable to wear shorts with a t-shirt.

The temperature is scheduled to reach 79 today, then in the 80s for the next couple days, before getting a bit cold, again, but not cold of the freezing sort.

A few days ago the forecast for the first couple weeks of February had been day after day after day in the 80s. That seemed a bit unlikely.

But, I am ready to enjoy a couple days in the 80s.

In the photo documentation you are at the east end of Sikes Lake, looking west. As you can see, it is a totally clear blue sky first day of February in Wichita Falls, Texas...

Final 2025 January Day With Clear Blue Sky Walk Around Sikes Lake

Yesterday's predicted heavy rain, with flash flooding, thunderstorms and tornadoes possible, did not materialize. By late afternoon all clouds had vacated, with the welcome return of a clear blue sky.

Not even some heavy rain managed to drip. Just a drizzle for a couple hours.

Yesterday's eventual totally clear blue sky has continued on this, the final day, of the first month of 2025.

Tomorrow, February of 2025 arrives, with the current weather prediction being day after day of temperatures over 80 degrees. With no precipitation. That should be enjoyable.

On this final day of January, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for some fast-paced nature communing.

The photo documentation, above, is looking west from the bridge across the currently Green Lagoon of Sikes Lake.

For the next couple months, I intend to amp up my physical activity level, hoping the increased endorphins give me some relief, mood-wise, from the current madness America is going through...

Second New Year Tuesday With Clear Blue Cool Sky

Another clear blue-sky day, this second Tuesday of the New Year of 2024. It was back to Sikes Lake I ventured this morning, as you can clearly see via the view of the Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake, located at the west end of the lake, viewed from the middle of the bridge across the Lagoon.

The temperature was in the mid 40s, with no wind, making for pleasant conditions.

Such will remain the case for a few days, eventually getting to a daytime high in the low 70s, before another cold blow arrives, dropping the temperature low into the mid-teens.

I prefer my temperatures to be in the 70s, not the mid-teens...

Blue Sky Saturday Playing Soccer While Hiking At Sikes Lake

On this second Saturday of the New Year of 2024, at my North Texas location, snow clouds have totally left the sky, leaving bright blue behind.

In shady areas, some snow remains, but, for the most part, the snow has melted into oblivion. No further such nonsense is in the near-term forecast, though there are a few days of such, predicted in the not so near-term forecast.

Judging by the number of people I saw today on my hike around Sikes Lake, I would have thought today was the first day of the New Year, with people out making good on their New Year's Resolution to get more exercise.

But, I think today's large number of people was likely due to the relief at the end of being housebound the past couple days. I know that is how I felt.

There was also some sort of soccer tournament going on today on the Sikes Lake soccer field. I saw three Fort Worth school buses which had transported soccer players to Wichita Falls. It seems a long way to go to play soccer on a field with no viewing stands, with soccer match viewers viewing from their perch on folding chairs on the sidelines.

I think of few things sounding more boring than watching a soccer game from field level with the temperature barely above freezing, with a strong wind blowing.

By some means snow had been removed from the soccer field's artificial grass, leaving a short wall of snow all around the perimeter of the field.

Is it considered normal to play soccer in Winter?

The temperature was in the 40s when I visited Sikes Lake today. As you can see via the photo documentation, a steady wind was making waves on the lake. That and making those 40 some degrees feel much colder...

Happy New Year Chilly Walk Around Sikes Lake

I read this morning that something called a Polar Vortex is heading south, due to arrive soon. Last night the temperature at my North Texas location dipped below freezing. 

Does this mean that predicted Polar Vortex is already here?

As you can see, no clouds arrived with the frigidity. The first day of the New Year is a clear blue sky day in Wichita Falls. A chilly blue sky day.

It was to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured this New Year's Day morning. As you can see, by seeing the waveless blue lake, the air was dead calm whilst I was doing my nature communing.

I thought there would be a lot of nature communers today, something that always seems to happen at the start of a new year, with a lot of people making a New Year's Resolution to get in better shape.

New Year's Eve Eve Return of The Shadow of the Sikes Lake Thin Man

On this next to last day of 2024, also known as New Year's Eve Eve, it was back to nearby Sikes Lake I ventured for some high-speed walking.

As you can see, today there is nary a cloud blocking the clear blue sky.

What you cannot see is the temperature was in the 70s, with a strong wind steadily blowing, with gusts gusting, gustily. With some of those gusts gusting so strongly it made remaining vertical difficult.

 As you can see, via the photo documentation of the Shadow of the Sikes Lake Thin Man, the current summer-like heatwave made shorts and a t-shirt the required outerwear today.

Today's heatwave ends tomorrow, if the current forecast turns out to be accurate, with tomorrow's high being in the low 50s.

Today's high is predicted to possibly get into the low 80s.

I do not think today's heatwave will necessitate switching the interior climate control system from heat mode back to air-conditioning mode.

Chilly Pre-Thanksgiving Walk With Sikes Lake Ducks In The Blue Lagoon

On this final Tuesday of the 2024 version of November, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this chilly day for a walk around the lake, which would make that the Blue Lagoon of Sikes Lake you see above, with a flock of ducks quacking in the sunshine as they paddle through the lagoon.

The temperature dipped to one degree above freezing last night. It is just a bit jarring to go from one day hitting the 80s and the next day almost freezing.

Such may explain why I seem to be suffering random bouts of sneezing.

The sneezing is either caused by the chill, or the mountain cedar pollen that apparently is causing an allergic reaction in some unfortunate souls, like, possibly, myself.

I am totally prepared for Thanksgiving. There will be no turkey involved in the festivities. Thanksgiving is going to be Mexican cuisine themed, with tacos being the center piece. 

The current weather prediction for Thursday is that that day will see the first freeze of this freezing season.

There is no prediction of frozen precipitation in the current forecast for Thanksgiving...

Fall Is Starting To Show Up At Sikes Lake

Almost halfway through November, today, whilst walking around Sikes Lake I saw the first sign, this Fall season, of leaves losing their green color, transitioning to yellow, on their way to orange, before turning brown and falling to the ground.

The first freeze of the current cooler time of the year is scheduled to happen later this month, a few days before Thanksgiving.

I do not previously remember it being this late in the year without switching the interior climate control to heat mode.

Though the climate control system is still in air conditioning mode, the A/C has not needed to do its cooling task for quite few days.

Veteran's Day Sikes Lake Walk Around Wichita Falls Waterfall

On this Veteran's Day, second Monday of November of 2024, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured for a walk around the lake, stopping at one of Wichita Falls' falls, falling a little water over the Sikes Lake Dam, for the first time in a long time. 

A dam which was fall-free for a long time due to the long drought, which somewhat abated last week from a few days of deluges.

The moat surrounding my abode has evaporated enough to allow my usual access to my motorized means of motion.

But, more rain is scheduled in a few days.

I suspect we are in for several months of excessive dripping, hopefully without that dripping arriving frozen.

I am in no mood to deal with an ice storm, sub-zero temperatures, or snow, or any combo of such.

Sikes Lake Tesla Cyber Truck Sighting

With this Happy Halloween last day of October being chilled to barely 60 degrees, it was to Sikes Lake I ventured this day before the start of November, for some nature communing.

Upon arrival at the Sikes Lake parking lot, I saw something I had not previously seen, in person, a Tesla Cyber Truck.

Upon seeing this I reacted thinking photos do not do justice to how totally weird this vehicle looks. Why did anyone think this was a good idea?

I looked in the window and saw two rather ordinary bucket seats, a rectangular steering wheel, and a big glass screen in the middle of the dashboard, which looked like a bad idea, way too big with sharp edges, like the vehicle's exterior.

I don't think this vehicle is going to become a big seller.

With no back window I am guessing that big screen in the middle of the dashboard serves as a rear view with a camera providing the image.

I would not like driving a vehicle without a rear window.

Changing the subject back to the weather.

Last night, right before midnight, the predicted thunderstorm arrived, for a short duration, with a slight downpour which left no noticeable precipitation remaining in the form of puddles by dawn's early light.

More precipitation and thunderstorming is on the menu for the next several days. An end to the drought would be nice...